Well I finally got home, the train from hell was two and a half hours late...I think I froze to death just waiting for it along with all my 300 football loving homies. I had the best time, it was great meeting Benz and his lovely wife. I got to carve a small tiki and actually finished it, well kind of...The food Monica made was just great. And everyone was so nice and welcoming. I can't wait to do this again. Oh I almost forgot I also cut my finger but no infection. What a great day, thanks again everyone and lets do it again soon.

What can I say??
Here I am sitting in my hotel room and it's monday morning and my plane leaves in a couple hours. I Can't believe its over,,Major let-down. This will be a Most Memorable weekend for me and Sherry. The Aloha spiritwas flying high all weekend, The warm welcomes we had from everyone were just heartwarming and emotional. Everyone was so happy to see us and did their best to make us feel at home. I am tired and sore everywhere, but would go back for another day of carving if it were at all possible. Leaving San Diego will be very difficult. Right now you could very easily talk me into staying here forever, moving here, lock stock and barrel. Big Mahalos for all responsible for putting this event together, happyhappyhappy.
I have a ton of pictures to post when I get home( I only took about490 shots) so look for more soon
Until then thanks to everyone who welcomed us and made us feel just like Family

I can't imagine it being any more perfect than it was! Ben I respected your work before, but now fuggetaboutit! Eventhough I gave up and had to walk away I will get back to it, but man talk about intense! Thank you for flying out and taking the time to show us the way.
The same goes for Bosko and Danny, thank you! You two made it alot less frustrating to be out there carving! If we stumbled you guys were there to help fix up the flubs and get us back on track.
But "THE MAN" is definitely Mason, out there with words of encouragement! What a great kid, he was happy to be there helping out any carver that needed it, at least thats how it semed to this newbie tiki carving geek, Mason was very helpful! A million MAHALO'S to Mason!
The hosts of this the Left Coast Carving Seminar know a little sumthn sumthn on how to entertain! The Lava Flow Inn was overwhelming, what a place, if I dare say the perfect place for this event! Matt sure made me feel welcome and comfortable, thank you! Al-li thanks for the special drink you made just for me...yummmm!
Onatiki and Moki thanks for opening up your beautiful home and giving me a soft place to lay my very tired sawdusty head. You'll never know how thankful I am to all involved who got this seminar to happen!
And thanks to everyone (especially Tikimecula and VonTiki) who were so nice to lend me "the right" chisels, mallets, propane tanks and sand paper to help me get my tiki done.
Learing to carve has been something I have wanted to attempt for a long time but have just been too afraid to try it. The place, the teachers, the food, the drinks, the company.... Monkeyman is right... it IS all about the people!

Wow, where to start. The 'Oki 'Oki was so fun. I had a blast. I wont recap everything, but I would like to send out the big thank you's.
Anthony- for the use of his tent.
GROG-for the cool poster and general good nature.
Kirby-for the pendant.
TikiLee-for the grab bag of tiki bottle openers.
Cammo-for the book and cd's.
Buzzy-for the coconuts.
TikiTikiBoom-for the last minute passionfruit syrup.
Al-for tending bar. Great Mai Tai's
Dawntiki-for the rum and tiki bowling set.
PDrake-for the woodcarving and cast Moai pendant.(we'll find that damn camera)
Tikimecula-for the amazing warclub #6 a most generous and staggering gift.And for hauling the AAC blocks to the event.
To Benzarts wonderfull wife Sherry-for all your help with the food set up and serving.
Monkeyman-for being the perfect houseguest(I caught him reading Dr. Suess books to my kids early Sunday morning). And for the help with all the trash not to mention bar-tending.
Big thanks to Vontiki-for suppling half the logs-huge savior. Sorry about your camera getting crushed.
Heath-A paying attendie who helped provide, clean and carry logs, bought ice,cleaned up,hauled trash-his list goes on and on. Amazing friend-amazing person.
To the teachers;Bosko,Danny, you two kick ass! You kept it fun and informative. Fantastic job. Mason was a great help.
Benzart-What a trooper. Thanks for everything (minus torturing my dog).You really go the extra mile (literally) and I know we all loved it.
To everyone who attended-thanks for your great work and warm personalities.
Finally to 'Onatiki and Moki-Thank you sooo much for all the hard work and headaches you endured. You are truly what this whole "tiki thing" is about. To know one person so cool in a lifetime is lucky. I am proud to say that I know two.
Mahalo and cheers.
Matt

What an awesome weekend!!!
I certainly learned alot about chiseling that I didn't know.Thanks so much to Danny, Bosko, Maso, and Ben for the instruction. You guys are highly skilled. There were so many awesome carvings and new tikis that were born into the world last weekend it's amazing.
Rick,Matt,Monica, you guys are so cool. What a fantastic atmosphere you created and shared.You certainly made me feel welcome and the food was off the hook. Drinks too!!
It was a good time meeting and spending time with so may other tiki enthusiasts.
I'm looking forward to our next event.
See you there!!
Thanks again, what a blast!!!
-Dustin
VonTiki

Thank you Ric, Monica and Matt for organizing and hosting the event. Matt's place is gorgeous. The food was excellent.

DawnTiki - Thanks for giving me the courage to participate.

Danny, Bosko, Mason and Ben - Thank you for your patience and encouragement.

Lee - Thanks for the swell swag.

Perry - Thanks for the pendant. Gotta paint him sometime this week.

Thanks to all of the carvers who gave me pointers and just absolutely inspired me.

And a massive THANK YOU to GROG for lugging my tiki up six thousand stairs and getting him into the backseat of my car for me. Thank you also for sharing your portfolio with us. That was one of those little unexpected treats that made the weekend so much more special.

I'd definitely do this again (once I regain the feeling in my wrists.)

GROG knew GROG was going to enjoy this event, but GROG didn't know GROG was going to enjoy it THIS much!!!

Thanks Matt for being such a great host. AWESOME place!
Thanks Moki and Ric for letting GROG and Kirby crash at your amazing pad. It was good company with ya'll along with
Dawn, Greg and Polynesiac.
Great meeting you Benz and Sherry. You are are truly inspiring.
Diablo, Bosko and Mason, you guys did a great job. Always a pleasure seeing you. GROG learned alot from all of the teachers as well as from my fellow carvers.
And speaking of fellow carvers, GROG can't believe you guys-----there was not a single bad tiki carving there. GROG not sure if that's a testament to everybody's skill, or the teachers, but GROG definitely believes itwas abig dose of both.
Thanks Pdrake for the mug and Cammo for the book, and Tiki Lee for the bottle openers.
GROG at work so GROG have to get off the computer, so thanks to everybody who made this such a great event.